Category: meditation
-
Gary Gutting on happiness, philosophy, and science
Update: If you found my website by way of Arts and Letters Daily and if you’re interested in learning more about philosophical counseling in general or my philosophy practice in particular, you might try taking the following path: First, “On Prescribing Aristotle: Show Transcript and Clarifications”; Second, “A Few Essays on Philosophy as a Way of Life”; Third, “Toward…
-
‘What makes a place beautiful is the humanity that dwells there’
For Confucius human intercourse is the life element. “The superior man does not neglect his neighbors.” But in our association with men, we encounter both good and bad. “Have no friend who is not your equal,” says Confucius, but rejects the maxim: “Associate with those who are worthy of it; as for those who are…
-
On the value of good taste
The following comes in response to a short blog I read about “guilty pleasures.” I’m not sure that the concept of “guilty pleasures” is coherent, but I think the concept of “shameful pleasures” is. The latter, in its misstep, seems to be indicative of our desire for good taste. But why would having good taste make any…
-
A scholar was visiting an old monk…
A scholar was visiting an old monk. The monk filled the scholar’s teacup full, but kept on pouring. The scholar finally exclaimed, “It is full. No more will go in!” “Like this cup,” said the monk, “you are overfull with your own opinions. I cannot show you the way of Zen.” Compiled by Marc de Smedt. The…
-
On Stoical exercise
I am writing to you from my inner citadel fortified by my moral purpose. My outer citadel is located on high ground in the Upper East Side. Irene rains grayly outside. Yesterday I was restless, but today I am calm. This can easily be explained: I have kept up with my philosophical exercises and have…
Andrew Taggart, Ph.D. 